Typographical casting machine



March 23, 1937- G. P. KINGSBURY TYPOGRAPHICAL CASTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 12, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet 1 H I v I INVENTOR BY 5 z 3 ATTORNEYS G. P. KINGSBURY 2,074,511

Filed Dec. 12, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NVENTOR Wf ,A l v mvm I TORY$ March 23, 1937.

TYPOGRAPHICAL CASTING MACHINE March 23, 1937 ca. P. KINGSBURY TYPOGRAPHICAL CASTING MACHINE 7 Filed Dec.

12, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR FITT RNEYS 55 transfer position.

Patented Mar. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES f I I 2,074,511

2,074,511; TYPOGRAPHICAL CASTING MACHINE George P. Kingsbury, Hollis, N. Y., assignor to Mergenthaler Linotype Company, a corporation of New York Application December 12, 1935, Serial No. 54,034

22 Claims.

This invention relates to typographical casting machines, such as linotype machines of the general organization represented in United States patent to O. Mergenthaler No. 436,532, wherein circulating matrices are released from a magazine in the order in which their characters are to appear in print, and then composed in line in an assembler or assembling elevator, the composed line transferred from the assembler through an intermediate channel into a vertically movable transporter or first elevator which presents the line to the face of a slotted mold, the mold filled with molten metal to form a slug or linotype against the matrices, which produce the type characters thereon, and the matrices thereafter returned through distributing mechanism to the magazine from which they started.

In the commercial machines, the matrices are of standard form and dimensions and are commonly provided on their casting edges with two superposed characters, ranging in size from 5 pt. to a maximum of 14 pt. The letter characters on the individual matrices are usually alike, the

5 upper one being roman and the lower one italic, and the matrices are composed at one or the other of two different levels to bring either the roman or the italic characters into casting position. After composition, the matrices are maintained at their respective levels by means of rails which support them by their projecting ears during their circulation through the machine from the time of composition until after the casting operation. In the assembler, the matrices are supported by their lower projecting ears on upper and lower rails and they are similarly supported in the intermediate channel during the line transfer; but when the line enters the first elevator, those matrices standing at the lower level are sustained by their upper projecting ears on a pair of upper fixed rails while those standing at the upper level are supported by their lower projecting ears on a lower (single) retractible rail. After the casting operation, and when the first elevator is raised to the "upper transfer position, the retractible rail is moved forwardly from beneath the matrices standing at the upper level, so that they may drop to the lower level preparatory to the transfer of the line onto the second elevator bar. The retractible rail is controlled by cam surfaces formed on a fixed overhead bracket, which constitutes part of the framework and just clears the top of the ele-, vator when the latter is stopped in the upper In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for larger faces and, in attempting to meet this demand insofar as two-letter matrices are concerned, many serious difliculties have presented themselves. Thus, the distance between the top of the lower character to the top of the upper character (characters inverted) of a standard two-letter matrix is the same throughout the various fonts, and in order to increase this distance for characters above 14 pt. without disturbing the location of the upper character so that the latter character may still register as usual with the mold slot, it is necessary to utilize part of the regular space between the lower projecting ear and the top of the lower character. Consequently, when these two-letter matrices are formed with characters above 14 pt., they must be supported in the first elevator at a. correspondingly higher level to bring their lower characters into registration with the mold slot. Ordinarily, the space between the lower projecting ear and the routing notch for the lower character is seven-thirty-seconds of an inch, and it has been found that this space may be reduced to threethirty-seconds of an inch, thereby giving fourthirty-seconds of an inch additional character space. This means that when such additional character space is fully utilized, the matrices (which will hereafter be referred to as special matrices) will have to be'supported in the first elevator at four-thirty-seconds of an inch above the normal upper level. In reaching this new high level, undue wear on the lower projecting ears of the matrices should be avoided, since they present surfaces by means of which the matrix characters are aligned with the mold slot. Furthermore, changes in the assembler, intermediate channel and other organs of the machine should also be avoided for obvious reasons.

The present invention is intended to overcome these and other difiiculties and contemplates means whereby thespecial two-letter matrices may be assembled at the two normal upper and lower levels and retained at those levels until they come to rest in the transporter. Then, as the transporter descends to the casting position, it is proposed to raise those matrices standing at the normal upper levelto the new or higher level so that the lower characters, notwithstanding their greatly increased size, will register with the mold slot in the required manner (the datum or constant line of the mold being the same as usual). Here it may be noted that the upper characters, although likewise of increased size, will register with the mold slot while standing at the normal lower level, since the datum line of these characters (a line drawn through the tops of the inverted characters) has not been changed, as has the datum line for the lower characters. After the casting operation, the matrices are all brought to a common level preparatory to transfer from the first elevator.

In the specific embodimentherein illustrated, the retractible, rail of the first elevator is employed to support either the regular or the special matrices by their lower projecting ears. When regular matrices are in use, the retractible rail will function in the usual manner, but when special matrices are being handled, said rail is raised automatically as the first elevator (after receiving the line at the normal levels) descends to present the line to the mold. After casting, and as the first elevator rises to its upper transfer position, the rail is automatically restored to itsoriginal lower position in readiness for the next composed line, thus permitting the special matrices supported by it'to drop back to the normal upper level at which they entered the elevator; and then when the elevator reaches the upper transfer position, the rail is automatically withdrawn (as in the customary way) 'topermit the matrices to drop or be pushed down tothe level of; the matrices standing at the lower normal level in the elevator, whereby all of the matrices in the composed line are brought to a common level as usual prior to the transfer of the line from the first elevator tothe second or distributing elevator.

The automatic devices for effecting such vertical adjustment of the retractible rail function only when the machine is. handling the special matrices, being rendered inoperative when the regular matrices are in use, it being understood that it is not intended to compose lines containing both regular and special matrices. These automatic devices comprise,v generally, a projection on the vise frame and a cam piece on the retractible rail, these parts acting by their mutual engagement, as the first elevator arrives in its casting position, to shift therail endwise in one direction and later, by breaking engagement with each other, as the elevator rises from casting position, to permit a spring to shift the rail in the opposite direction back to its original position. The mounting of the rail is such that it is raised and lowered in the required manner when thus shifted endwise in opposite directions.

The projection on the vise frame forming part of the automatic devices referred to is in the form of a pivoted block, which may be turned at will into and out of the path of the cam piece on the retractible rail, so that,-by a single manual adjustment, the machine may be set for one kind of matrices or the other, as desired. No changes or alterations are required in the assembling elevator, the intermediate channel, and the parts in d the vicinity of the upper transfer position.

' In the accompanying drawings, the invention has been shown merely in preferred form and by way of example, and obviously manychanges and variations may be madetherein and in its mode of. operation without departing from its spirit. It should be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form or embodiment, except insofar as such limitations are specified in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation, partly in section, of a portion of the improved first elevator and showing a line of the special matricessupported in the elevator head at the normal upper and lower levels;

Fig. 2 is a similar view, but showing the elevator seated upon the vise frame and the raised matrices adjusted to the new high level preparatory to the casting operation;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation, partly broken away, of the head portion of the first elevator, showing the adjusting cam block and the position it occupies in relation to the parts it controls;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the parts in a different position;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail view, showing the adjusting cam block turned to its inactive position;

Fig. 6 is a side view, showing a portion of the first elevator and parts cooperating therewith at the upper transfer station;

Fig. 'Tis a horizontal section, taken on the line '|-'i of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figs. 8 and 8 are, respectively, enlarged face views of two regular and two special matrices standing at their proper casting levels; and

Fig'. 9 is a detail perspective view of. the adjusting cam block. 1

,The regular matrices X and the special matrices Y are of standard form and dimensions, being provided respectively with an upper pair of projecting ears s3 11 and a lower pair of projecting ears 1 1 On their casting edges, the matrices X and Y are each formed with two superposed characters :0 9: and 3/ and 11/ respectively, the characters 9: and m of the regular matrices X having a range in size throughout the various matrix fonts from 5 pt. to 14 pt., and the characters 1 and 11 of the special matrices Y having a range in size from 14 pt. up to, say, 20 pt. or 22 pt.

In Fig. 8 two of the regular and in Fig. 8 two of the special matrices are shown standing at their respective upper and lower casting levels and in each instance with the lower character of one matrix aligned With the upper character of the other. It will be observed that while the space or vertical distance between the lower ears 3: and 11 of the matrices X and Y and the bottom walls of the routing notches containing the upper characters 36 and 11/ is exactly the same, the space or vertical distance between the lower ears g of the matrices Y and the bottom Walls of the routing notches containing the lower characters 11/ is considerably less than that between the lower ears m of the matrices X and the bottom walls of the routing notches containing the lower characters m Consequently, both the regular and special matrices may be supported at a common lower level to locate their upper characters in casting position, but must be supported at relatively different upper levels to locate their lower characters in casting position, the matrices X to stand at the normal upper level and the matrices Y to stand at the higher or new level, as

indicated.

In the normal operation of the machine, the composed line of matrices is transferred, as usual, to the vertically movable first elevator or transporter A (Fig. 1), wherein the matrices composed at the lower level will be supported by their upper projecting ears on a pair of fixed horizontal rails a, and those composed at the upper level will be supported by their lower projecting ears on a single retractible rail B. Upon receipt of the line, the first elevator descends until it banks upon a vise frame C (Fig. 2) and in this way positions the line in front of a mold D between a pair of clamping jaws E (Fig. 7) which are slidably mounted in rectangular guideways C formed in the vise frame.

The mold D (Fig. 2) comprises, as usual, a body portion D a cap portion D and a pair of intermediate liners D the cap and body portions forming the upper and lower side walls of the mold slot and the two liners the end walls thereof. The body portion D of the mold D also presents a pair of upper and lower aligning ribs D and D respectively, which are positioned directly over and in engaging relation to the lower projecting ears of the matrices when the mold carrier F is advanced to force the mold against the matrix line for the casting of the slug. In this connection, it may be mentioned that due to the higher level at which the matrices Y must be supported in the first elevator to bring their lower characters into casting position, the upper aligning rib D of the mold D (which is intended only for the special matrices) is made proportionately thinner than the corresponding rib on the regular mold used for the regular matrices X. After the casting operation and the mold recedes, the first elevator is raised to the upper transfer station (Fig. 6), where the matrices are caused to assume a common level, and the line is then shifted horizontally by a transfer slide onto the second elevator bar (not shown), which carries the line upwardly to the distributing mechatnism.

As: best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the first elevator A includes the long vertical body portion A which is slidably mounted in the vise frame C, and the improved head portion A which comprises, as usual, the front and rear side walls A A and the intermediate connecting block A (Figs. 3 and 4) arranged at one end of the elevator head. The fixed rails a are formed integrally with the front and rear side walls A A whereas, the retractible rail B is formed on a bar B which is arranged below the front wall A and, according to the present invention, is mounted for vertical adjustment on a pair of fixed tongues g rising from a supporting bracket piece G.

For a purpose later to be pointed out, the bar B (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) is provided with an upright plate B secured to the front edge thereof and presenting an elongated cam surface B The plate B is arranged flush with the front face of the side wall A in a recess a formed therein, so as to escape the vise frame when the first elevator descends to casting position.

The tongues 9' (Figs. 3 and e) present inclined upper and lower edges 9 and have a sliding fit in corresponding slots or apertures b formed in the rail bar B so that by moving the bar B endwise in opposite directions it will be cammed upwardly and downwardly by the inclined surfaces g The amount of adjustment required in a vertical direction for the rail B is so slight that the inclination of the surfaces g may be very gradual (about twenty degrees), and hence said surfaces may absorb most of the downward pressure on the rail during the normal machine operation of aligning the matrix characters with the mold slot. This pressure will be transmitted to the front wall A of the member A through the bracket piece G, which is sustained by means of integral upright end portions G from said wall. The end portions G are provided with lateral fore-and-aft ribs or flanges 9 which engage in corresponding slots 0. formed in the wall A so that while the bracket piece G is rigidly restrained against vertical displacement, it is at the same time, and for reasons presently to appear, capable of a limited foreand-aft movement from and to its normal matrix supporting position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Additional vertical support is furnished the bracket piece G between its ends by a shoulder screw g which passes upwardly through an angular slot 9 of the piece G and is threaded into the bottom of the front side wall A (Figs. 3 and 7).

The fore-and-aft movement of the bracket piece G is effected by a pair of vertical levers A mounted on pivot studs (1. in recesses formed in the front side wall of the elevator head A near the opposite ends thereof. At their upper ends, these levers are provided with beveled nose portions (1. and, between the nose portions and the studs 09, they are connected by pull springs A to the body portion A of the elevator (Figs. 1, 2 and 6). At their lower ends, the levers A engage in elongated apertures b formed in the rail bar B (Figs. 3 and 7) and, through the connection of said bar with the tongues g of the bracket piece G, hold the latter as well as the bar B under tension of the springs A' in their matrix supporting or unretracted position against stop shoulders a (see Figs. 1 and 2). However, by pushing the upper ends of the levers A backwardly (which is done when the first elevator rises to its upper transfer position as shown in Fig. 6), the bar B and bracket piece G will be moved forwardly in opposition to the springs A" and thus carry the rail B and lip g to the matrix levelling or retracted position indicated. A smoother action to the piece C- during its reciprocations to and fro is assured by arranging the upper ends of the tongues g (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) in fore-and-aft guiding slots a formed in the lower edge of the side wall A The rail bar B is moved endwise toward the right by a pull spring B which is connected to the bar at one end and is anchored in a clearance slot g formed in the bracket piece G (see Figs. 3, 4 and 7). The bar B will thus normally be held in its lowermost position, wedged by the tongues a down upon the piece G under the influence of the spring 13 (see Figs. 1 and 3). In such position, the rail B will be properly located to give support to either the regular matrices X or the special matrices Y as they are delivered to the first elevator at the normal upper level, the matrices X being maintained at that level by allowing the rail to remain at rest during the descent of the elevator, and the matrices Y being raised to the higher or new level required (see Figs. 2 and 4) by adjusting the bar B a given distance upwardly and toward the left along the beveled surfaces of the tongues g during the descent of the elevator. To prevent other matrices Y of the line which may stand at the lower level in the elevator head A from possible displacement vertically through frictional contact with those being raised, the bracket piece G (Figs. 1 and 2) is provided with a retaining lip g which projects from the rear edge thereof above the lower projecting ears y of said matrices.

Means are provided for elfecting the endwise movements of the rail B automatically, so that lines of the special matrices Y may be cast successively in the usual way without attention on the part of the operator or interruption in the normal operation of the machine. Such means (see Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive) consists of a small semi-circular block H, which presents a high concentricportion h and a lowflat portion hl. As best shown in Fig. 2, the block H is pivotally mounted on the rear face of the vise frame C and arranged flush with the upper edge thereof so that it may be turned conveniently in opposite directions about its pivot stud n to active or inactive position, as desired. A detent H (Figs. 2 and 7), positioned directly above the pivot stud h in the vise frame C, is adapted by its engagement with corresponding notches 71 formed in the contiguous face of the block H to hold the latter against accidental displacement in its two adjusted positions.

When the block H is turned to its inactive position (as in Fig. 5), the high surface 71. thereof will be disposed out of the path of the upright cam plate B so that the latter will escape contact with the block as the first elevator banks upon the vise frame and thus permit the rail B to retain its lower or normal position (shown in Figs. 1 and 3) where it is adapted to serve as a support for regular matrices X composed at theupper level.

When, however, the block H is turned to its active position, the high surface h thereof will be disposed (as shown in Fig. .3) in the vertical path of thecam surface B of the upright plate B and as a result, each time the first elevator,

in descending approaches the casting position during successive machine cycles of operation, the bar B will be pushed toward the left against the tension of the spring B until the straight vertical surface at the top of the plate 13 is brought to bear against the block H (see Fig. 4) At this time and as the first elevator comes to rest upon the vise frame C, the parts will stand in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4, and the rail B will have been moved upwardly, as before described, to position the lower characters of the special matrices Y in casting relation, to the mold.

After the casting of the slug and as soon as the upright plate B is carried out of contact with the block H by the return upward movement of thefirst elevator, the rail bar B is restored to its normal position upon the bracket piece G by the pull spring B Those matrices Y supported by the rail B are thus lowered to the normal level at which they enter the first elevator long before the latter in its ascent arrives at the upper transfer station. As the elevator is arrested in that position (Fig. 6), the vertical levers A will be actuated by the engagement of their nose portions :1 with the customary beveled cam surfaces of a fixed bracket 0 and the bracket piece G together with the rail B will be retracted, so as to permit the matrices to drop (or be pushed down by the overhead bar 0 to the lower level in the elevator, preparatory to the transferof the line to the second elevator. Following the transfer of the line from the first elevator, the latter returns to its original line receiving position and the bracket piece G and rail B will of course be restored to their original position as shown in Fig. 1.

While the characters of the special matrices Y shown herein are located for top alignment, it may be found desirable instead to use matrices with characters designed for universal or base alignment. In this event, the block H could readily be changed so as to adjust the rail B to different levels in order to locate the different size characters in proper casting position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: V 1. In or for a typographical casting machine adapted to be equipped with a set of regular twoletter matrices having characters of a given range in size or with a set of special two-letter matrices having characters of a greater range in size a line transporter provided with means for supporting composed lines of either regular or special matrices at a common lower level to locate their upper characters in casting position, and with adjustable means common to the matrices of both sets for supporting them at relatively different upper levels to locate their lower characters in casting position.

2. In or for a typographical casting machine adapted to be equipped with a set of regular twoletter matrices having characters of a given range in size or with a set of special two-letter matrices having characters of a greater range in size, a line transporter provided with fixed rails common to the matrices of both sets for supporting them at a lower level to locate their upper charactors in casting position, and an adjustable rail also common to the matrices of both sets and adjustable vertically to support them at relatively different upper levels to locate their lower characters in casting position.

3. In a typographical casting machine adapted to be equipped with a set of special two-letter matrices having characters ranging in size above fourteen point, the combination of a transporter for presenting composed matrix lines to the casting mechanism, said transporter being provided with means for supporting the matrices of a composed line at two normal levels therein, and means operable as the transporter approaches thecasting mechanism for raising the matrices supported at the upper normal level to a predetermined higher level.

4. A combination according to claim 3, including means for restraining the matrices supported at the lower level in the transporter against upward movement.

5. In or for a typographical casting machine equipped with two-letter matrices formed with upper and lower projecting ears, a movable line transporter presenting a pair of fixed rails for supporting matrices of composed lines by their upper ears at a lower casting level to locate their upper characters in casting position. said transporter also carrying a vertically adjustable rail for supporting matrices of composed lines by their lower projecting ears at an upper level to locate their lower characters in casting position.

6. In a typographical casting machine adapted to be equipped with a set of regular two-letter matrices or with a set of special two-letter matrices, the combination of a transporter provided with a pair of fixed rails for supporting matrices of either set at a lower level to locate their upper characters in casting position and with a single adjustable rail for supporting matrices of the respective sets at relatively different upper levels to locate their lower characters in casting position, and automatic means for adjusting the rail from a lower to a higher position in the transporter when the special set of matrices is in use.

'7. A combination according to claim 6, wherein the automatic means referred to may be rendered inoperative when the regular set of matrices is in use.

8. In a typographical casting machine adapted to be equipped with a set of regular two-letter matrices or with a set of special two-letter matrices, the combination of a transporter provided with a pair of fixed rails for supporting matrices of either set at a lower casting level and with a vertically adjustable rail for supporting matrices of the respective sets at relatively different upper casting levels, automatic means for adjusting the rail, and manually operable means for controlling the adjustment of the rail.

9. A combination according to claim 8 and wherein the transporter is provided with a bracket piece for supporting the adjustable rail and with a spring for holding said rail resiliently in its lowermost position upon the bracket piece.

10. A combination according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that the adjustable rail in its lowermost position is adapted to support the regular matrices at their proper casting level and in a higher position is adapted to support the special matrices at their proper casting level.

11. In a typographical casting machine equipped with two-letter matrices, the combination of a transporter provided with means for supporting the matrices of a composed line at a normal upper as well as at a normal lower level therein, and means for raising matrices supported at the normal upper level to a predetermined higher level, when required.

12. In a typographical casting machine equipped with two-letter matrices, the combination of a transporter provided with means for supporting the matrices of a composed line at a normal upper as well as at a normal lower level therein, and means for automatically raising mat- .rices supported at the normal upper level to a predetermined higher level, when required.

13. In a typographical casting machine, the combination of a matrix line transporter movable vertically from line receiving position downward to casting position, said transporter being provided with horizontal rails arranged to receive and support matrices of a composed line at two normal levels, means for raising the matrices supported at the normal upper level to a predetermined higher level as the transporter approaches the casting position, and means for restoring the raised matrices to their original normal level as the transporter leaves the casting position.

14. In or for a typographical casting machine adapted to be equipped with two-letter matrices, a line transporter provided with a pair of fixed rails to support the matrices at a lower level and with a vertically adjustable rail to support the matrices at differentupper levels, said adjustable rail being mounted therein for endwise movement, and a pair of fixed tongues formed with upwardly inclined surfaces for raising and lowering the rail as it is moved endwise in opposite directions.

15. A combination according to claim 14, wherein the tongues referred to are integral parts of a bracket piece carried by the transporter and that said bracket piece together with the rail are retractible as a unit to permit matrices supported by the rail to drop to a lower level in the transporter.

16. In a typographical casting machine, the

70 combination of a vertically movable transporter provided with a vertically adjustable matrix supporting rail, a vise frame for supporting the transporter in its lowermost or casting position, and an actuating block mounted on said vise frame and arranged to cooperate with the rail in efiecting its vertical adjustment.

17. A combination according to claim 16,

wherein the actuating block is movable to active or inactive position as desired.

18. In a typographical casting machine, the combination of a line transporter movable from line receiving position to line casting position, then from line casting position to line transfer position and finally back to line receiving position, said transporter being formed with a pair of fixed matrix supporting rails and with a re tractible matrix supporting rail, and said retractible rail being vertically adjustable from and to normal matrix supporting position in the transporter.

19. In a typographical casting machine, the combination of a line transporter movable from line receiving position to line casting position,

then from line casting position to line transfer position and finally back to line receiving position, said transporter being formed with a pair of fixed matrix supporting rails and with a retractible matrix supporting rail, and said retractible rail being vertically adjustable from and to normal matrix supporting position in the transporter, and means operative during the movement of the transporter from the line receiving position to line casting position to adjust the rail upwardly from its normal matrix supporting position in the transporter and operative during the movement of the transporter from line casting position to line transfer position to adjust the rail downwardly back to its normal matrix supporting position in the transporter.

20. In a typographical casting machine, the combination of a line transporter movable from line receiving position to line casting position, then from line casting position to line transfer position and finally back to line receiving position, said transporter being formed with a pair of fixed matrix supporting rails and with a retractible matrix supporting rail, and said retractible rail being vertically adjustable from and to normal matrix supporting position in the transporter, and means operative during the movement of the transporter from the line receiving position to line casting position to adjust the rail upwardly from its normal matrix supporting position in the transporter and operative during the movement of the transporter from line casting position to line transfer position to adjust the rail downwardly back to its normal matrix supporting position in the transporter, said adjusting means permitting the rail to be retracted in the line transfer position of the transporter and later to be restored to its matrix supporting position during the movement of the transporter from line transfer position back to line receiving position, together with means for effecting such retraction and restoration of the rail.

21. In or for a typographical casting machine adapted to be equipped with two-letter matrices, a movable line transporter provided with fixed rails to support the matrices therein at a lower level and with a vertically adjustable rail to support the matrices therein at different upper levels.

22. In or for a typographical casting machine, a line transporter provided with a vertically adjustable and horizontally retractible matrix supporting rail.

GEORGE P. KINGSBURY, 

